Some people come to Chapman for a job. Frank Alvarado came for a fresh start — and never left.
For 17 and a half years, Alvarado has been a familiar face across Chapman, moving from the halls of the Fowler School of Law to University Advancement and now to Memorial Hall, where he serves as executive assistant to Senior Vice President and Deputy Chief of Staff Nidhi Vogt. He’s earned a reputation for the same things that drew him to the work in the first place: a genuine desire to help people and a warmth that puts people at ease.
“I just really like being of service,” Alvarado said. “I like being there for somebody, helping them. That’s the part of the job I really love.”
From Temp to Fixture
Alvarado grew up in Kansas City, Mo., moving to Orange at age 8. A friend who worked at a staffing agency brought him to Chapman, convinced he’d be a good fit for a temp role at the Fowler School of Law. He was hired permanently within three months.
He started as a faculty assistant, worked his way up to senior administrative assistant, and eventually moved to University Advancement, where he served as executive assistant to Amy Rogan-Mehta, now executive vice president and chief of staff, before transitioning to support Vogt. Throughout those shifts, the common thread has been the people.
“I love the family atmosphere,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to work with pretty great people since I’ve been here.”
That includes colleagues who would eventually rise to Chapman’s highest levels of leadership — including President Matt Parlow, whom Alvarado knew during Parlow’s time at the law school.
More Than the Job
For more than a decade, Alvarado coached softball, first in his daughter’s recreational league, then in travel ball, and later as an assistant varsity coach at El Modena High School, his alma mater.
“You really have to love helping people and working with people to do it,” he said. “Seeing a kid build confidence — that’s what I loved.”
A shoulder injury in his freshman year ended his own playing days early, but it never dimmed his love for the game or the mentorship that coaching made possible. He coached for more than 13 years, stepping back only when life redirected his attention.
These days, Alvarado’s world has gotten a lot fuller. He lives minutes from the Orange campus with his fiancée, his 22-year-old daughter, and 1-year-old son, Jesse — and most evenings, you’ll find the family on a walk across campus. It’s a quiet life built around trips to the Orange Circle, favorite coffee shops, plant nurseries, and time with the people he loves.
“I’m very blessed,” he said. “When you enjoy working for your boss, it just makes your job that much easier. You look forward to coming to work.”
His boss feels the same way.
“I am incredibly grateful for the care, loyalty, and deep sense of responsibility Frank brings to both the work and the people behind it,” Vogt said. “His institutional knowledge and genuine care for those around him embody a true spirit of service that reflects the very best of the Chapman Family.”
Story by Cristine Hall and Photos by Nathan Worden